A used book in good condition. Stock photo shown. Trade guns are a class of firearm made in northern Europe that evolved during the early years of the seventeenth century and that were made for barter to the natives of the sub Saharan Africa, North America, and South America. By 1670 they had achieved a reputation for being the cheapest, most-dangerous-to-the-user-firearm, that money could buy. This reputation must be examined in order to put the trade guns of the Hudson's Bay Company into perspective. Gunmakers who supplied and those who inspected company firearms were some of the leading craftsmen of London. The price paid by the Company for guns can be used as a measure of quality. Cost figures are available for 72 of the first 100 years and there is considerable comparative material, including board of ordnance costs for Long Land Pattern muskets.
In addition this book contains photos of surviving examples of firearms, and makers marks. Lists of the view masters, and company gunmakers and dates for their Trade Gun contracts. As well as comparative values of other furs vs. beaver pelts. Hard cover, illustrated, 158 pages.
The Table of Contents includes the following:
Foreword
Chapter 1 The Hudson's Bay Company
Pierre Radisson & the HBC
Trading Posts on Hudson Bay, c.1830
The Standard of Trade
The Northwest Company
The Union, 1821
English & Indian: a Vocabulary
Deed of Surrender, 1869
Chapter 2 H.B.C. Trade Guns and the English Gun Trade
Company Gunmakers
Gun Barrel Proof
The Tombstone Fox
Made in England
Not English Make
The Company View/Proof Master
Company Armorers & Gunsmiths
The Armorers Indent
Chapter 3 Trade Guns, the First 30 Years
The Earliest Trade Guns
The Snaphance Musket
The Oakes Pattern Trade Gun
The Albany River Guns
The Holland Gun Experiment
Chapter 4 The NW Gun & its Flintlock Contemporaries
The North West Gun
Pattern Guns & Sample Guns
Flintlocks & Lock Construction
The H.B.C. Pattern Flintlock
Barrel Length & Barrel Weight
Caliber, Gauge & Bore
Stock Design
Serpent Sideplates
Large Triggerguards
Buttplates
Trade Rifles
Fine Guns and Special Features
After the Union
Pistols for Vermin
Buccaneer Guns
Chapter 5 The Percussion Trade Gun
The First Percussion Guns
Lovell's Pattern 1842
The Pattern 1853 Enfield
Fine Guns of Percussion Ignition
The Imperial Line of Percussion Guns
Chapter 6 Breech Loading Guns & Department Store Sales
Belgian Hammer Guns
The Garry Double Gun
The Imperial Line
Proprietary Brands
The Leading Manufacturers
Canadian Manufacturers
Military Rifles
Chapter 7 Ammunition, Munitions, & Related Trade Goods
Gunpowder & Powder Suppliers
Ball & Shot
Gunflints
Percussion Caps
Loading & Reloading Equipment
Gun Worms
Copper Tacks, Rammer Tacks, and Stock Decoration
Bayonets Without Sockets
Powder Horns
Shotgun Shells & Rifle Cartridges
Red Gun Cases
Appendix I Selected Notes from the Hudson's Bay Archives
Appendix II Annual Trade Gun Sales, 1670-1780
Appendix III A Chronological Listing of Company Gunmakers
